Monday, June 14, 2010
Summer Safety Tips for Families with Kids
Summer is here and we’re all gearing up to have some fun in the sun! But don't forget about your summer safety tips whether you're close to home or on vacation.
Sunscreen. We all know about this one to prevent skin cancer and premature aging, but make sure you buy a new bottle every year that has at least SPF15 with both UVA and UVB protection. Reapply it every two hours - more frequently if they’re swimming or perspiring heavily. I’ve found that the spray on kind goes on faster and with better coverage, especially if your kid’s a squirmer! Think ahead and put it on 30 minutes before going out and try to be in the shade during the hottest parts of the day, between 10:00am and 4:00pm.
Sunglasses. Not only will sunglasses protect everyone's eyes from the bright glaring sun, but it will guard against forming cataracts later in life. Choose those with 99%-100% protection against UVA and UVB rays. Wearing a hat will help protect eyes, too.
Insect Repellent. Prevent annoying itching and also Lyme disease with insect repellent that is approved for children. DEET in 10%-30% range is generally viewed as safe, but it’s best to spray it on the clothing rather than the skin and then wash it off as soon as possible. Alternative natural repellents made with picaridin, oil of lemon eucalyptus, citronella, and soybean oil are widely available. You can also wear light-colored long sleeves and pants in grassy areas and avoid scented soaps or perfumes that attract bugs.
Food safety. Try using two coolers when you go on a picnic. One just for drinks that can be opened often and another for the food that remains closed until you eat, to keep food as cold as possible. In summer heat, cooked foods that have been sitting for more than an hour are probably not safe to eat. More picnic food safety tips here.
Hydration. Cool water is the best to stay hydrated and flavored sports drinks are okay, but sodas filled with sugar and caffeine will actually dehydrate a person.
Never leave a child alone in the car. It can be so tempting to let the baby sleep while you take the groceries inside the house, but it just takes a second for the door to lock and the car to reach a killing heat. And, when the car is parked, make sure it’s secured so children can’t accidentally lock themselves in.
Finally, teach your children to be safety conscious. We all grow up hearing reminders like, “Look both ways before crossing a road” or “Don't talk to strangers." These are good reminders but what’s even better is to help your kids see the consequences of their actions. For example, if your teen is swimming in the river with other teens, and someone dares him to jump off the cliff into the river, he’ll be able to say with conviction, “I’m not a chicken. I just think it’s really stupid to jump into the water when I don’t know if there are rocks below. I don’t want to spend my summer vacation in the hospital.”
Keeping your family safe and healthy this summer takes only a little extra attention, but it’s well worth the effort! More on water and pool safety in an upcoming blog post.
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